So I’m in the check out queue at a local supermarket (there are 3), not my favourite place to be (as regular readers will know), but needs must. It’s not particularly busy, I would suggest “steady” as the appropriate adjective.
“My” check out assistant is bantering with the one in the next lane.
I get three of my four items bleeped through, when checkout 2 hits some problem. (Ch.out2’s customer is buying the entire shop).
“My” assistant leaves off my last item, leaves the booth (without a word) goes to the assistance of her colleague. She was not quick. Impulse to the contrary, I do not walk out the shop.
I am in the checkout queue at a busy service station shop. This is a Farm shop and not at all your average Mway services. I am buying one item, (in my hand) and two more from behind the till. It is absoloutely heaving (Christmas sale level). There are however, multiple servers, and trade is at least brisk, apart from Mr& Mrs “I’ll have one of those, No dear 2 of those, I’ve changed my mind put them back (these are fresh food items), of them and one of them….” you get the idea.
However, aside for a slight sympathy for that server, it’s none of my concern, and the queue advances.
It so happpens, that I am taken by the same server immediately after Mr and Mrs indecisive. They ring through my first item, then notice, by the till, a keyring, which may, or may not have been left.
Without a word they leave the till and set off into the resturant area, clutching the keys just in case. It’s “her” till, no-one else can complete my purchase. It’s a hand crafted gift for lovely wife so I wait (did say, it’s not your average service station), and wait …..
Back in the supermarket (same one, but I think that’s just chance). It’s pretty busy and I’m in a hurrry (when am I not), but this queue looks shortest. I have 2 bottles of wine, next customer has 2 bottles of wine, front customers(family) has a few items and a trolly.
At least that how it apppears superficially.
Front customers have a full trolly which is barely unloaded at all, and are now unloading directly into the hands of the checkout girl, but have nowhere to place their scanned purchases… This, as you might imagine, involves considerable juggling.
£138.60 later they pay contactlessly and decline the receipt. I mentally note that I had thought contactless stopped at £100. [Spoiler – it does].
Checkout girl scans next customers first wine bottle, and realises that the card has been declined. Without a word, she leave the till and hastens out into the car park…
She does in fact (evetually) locate them. They don’t speak English as their first language, and although they do return to the till, they are unclear on the problem. It only takes the manager 15 mins to get it sorted. If I’d had a corkscrew I might have opened a botttle with the customer in front.
So I’m asking, is it just me?
Next week on IaDL : It is just me , isn’t it?
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 